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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Home > Glossary
Glossary
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase:
an enzyme involved in maintaining the membrane integrity
of red blood cells. Deficiency of this enzyme
is a sex-linked genetic condition which occurs with
highest frequencies in people of African, Middle Eastern
and Southeast Asian origin; it affects 12% of the U.S.
African-American male population. Some drugs and
infections can cause red blood cells to burst, resulting
in severe anemia and other complications among persons
deficient in this enzyme.
histology: the branch of anatomy that
deals with the structure, composition, and function
of body tissues.
hyponatremia: low sodium level in
the blood
immunostaining: the laboratory process
of detecting an organism in tissues with antibodies.
These antibodies are labeled with a fluorescent compound
that is seen as a colored deposit when viewed with a
light microscope.
indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA): a laboratory
test used to detect antibodies to an organism in serum
or other body fluid. The specific antibodies are labeled
with a compound that glows when observed microscopically
under ultraviolet light.
polymerase chain reaction (PCR): a
method used to make multiple copies of DNA by a process
developed in the mid-1980s. It is used to detect the
existence of specific microbial genes in DNA samples
extracted from infected blood, tissue or ticks.
serology: the branch of science dealing
with the measurement and characterization of antibodies
and other immunological substances in body fluids, particularly
serum.
thrombocytopenia: low platelet count
Date last reviewed: 05/20/2005 |
